Merger to Result in Closing of Recreation Center

A planned merging of the City of Marion’s Recreation and Parks Departments will result in several of changes, but the most sudden and dramatic will be the closure of the City’s Recreation Center.

City Council is expected to vote to approve the changes at their organizational meeting on January 2 at 7:30pm. The meeting will include the swearing in of the new City Council and votes on the 2012 budget and the department merger.

Jeannie Brewer, the current Recreation Department Direction, will become the Aquatic Center Director where she will be responsible for the center which is expected to open this spring. Brewer’s salary will be paid from the aquatic center funds which will save money for the City’s general fund.

The new combined Parks and Recreation Department would be headed up by current Parks Director Mike Cheney. There will also be a Recreation Advisory Council which will help guide the remaining recreation programs.

A couple Recreation Department employees will transfer with the merger, but several part-time employees will be let go.

While the reported numbers have changed several times, the merger is expected to save the City between $50,000 and $150,000 per year.

The most widely used programs will continue to exist in one form or another, including the adult softball leagues. The YMCA will take over the youth soccer programs. The City is looking for community partners to help with operating, or taking over, other programs.

The Recreation Center is the most visible casualty of the merger. It is expected to be closed as of January 3. While the center may be open for certain programs, it will no longer be holding open gyms and the game room will be closed. The City is looking for a group to operate the center, but there are no complete plans as of this point. 30 to 50 people per day are said to use the Rec Center during the winter, with 70 to 100 people per day in the summer.